Method and watch mechanism for actuation by a cardiac pulse



Feb. 11, 1969 A. uHERMAN ET AL 3,426,747

METHOD vAND WATCH MECHANISM FOR ACTUATION BY A GARDIAG PULSE Filed Nov.20, 1967 KQ 1.5 55 6 e7 Z4 INVENTORS W muy l Arm/wer United StatesPatent Otlee 3,426,747 Patented Feb. 1l, 1969 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE Means for driving a watch my means of a cardiac pulse at arate that varies according to the frequency, strength and regularity ofthe pulse, and, Kby comparing the rate of operation thereof with areference watch that operates at a constant and known rate, apprisingthe user by the deviant reading between the two watches of acorresponding variation in the functioning of the heart.

Cross-reference to related application This appplication is acontinuation-in-part of our pending application titled Watch Mechanismfor Actuation by a Cardiac Pulse, filed Sept. 27, 1966, Ser. No.582,337, now abandoned.

Background of the invention The applicants call attention to thefollowing prior United States Letters Patent: Woodworth, 576,180, Feb.2, 1897; Ricketts, 1,881,389, Oct. 4, 1932; Pellaton, 2,361,563, Oct.31, 1944; Johnston, 2,828,734, Apr. l, 1958; Briskier, 2,831,479, Apr.22, 1958; Polanyi, 3,249,- 105, May 3, 1966.

None of the above patents shows an assembly embodying the two watchesfor the purpose above defined. Nor do any of these patents show anyorganization in which the switch of an electric circuit, operating awatch, is actuated by the pulse and controls the rate of operationaccording to the strength, weakness and/ or regularity of the pulse.

Summary of the invention This invention has for an object to provide adevice, as contemplated, that may be worn in the manner of an ordinarywrist watch, only requiring care in positioning the same on the wrist ina manner that the switch is located in superposition on the cardiacpulse so as to be operated by the beats thereof.

Since persons with cardiac deficiencies or impairments may be permittedlimited physical activities, as a shortened round of golf, and traveland sight-seeing entailing a degree of walking, and persons withabnormally high lblood pressure, or other systemic conditions causing anabnormally high pulse, should also have their physical activitieslimited, another object of the invention is to provide means thataffords a constant check on the level of such activities, permittingpartaking thereof, yet giving notice of over-exertion and like tell-talesigns that the activities should be lessened or stopped entirely.

The invention also contemplates novel combinations of method steps aswell as novel details of construction and novel combinations andarrangements of parts, which will appear more fully in the course of thefollowing description, which is based on the accompanying drawing.However, said drawing merely shows, and the following description merelydescribes the invention with respect to, preferred methods andapparatus, the same, nevertheless, being given by way of illustration orexample only.

Brief description of the drawing In the drawing, like referencecharacters designate similar parts in the several views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pulse-actuated watch mechanism asembodied in a wrist bracelet, and showing a preferred form oftheinvention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged and fragmentary sectional view of a pulse-operatedswitch used in said mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a similarly enlarged longitudinal sectional view as taken onthe line 3 3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view as taken on the line 4 4 of FIG.3.

FIG. 5 is a wiring schematic of electrical means to operate thepulse-actuated watch of said mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a further enlarged longitudinal sectional view of an audiblealarm used in the device.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view as taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a semi-diagrammatic view of a modification of the differentialgearing means used in the construction.

Description of the preferred embodiments In the following specificationand claims, the term predetermined normal pulse is used to define thatpulse rate of a person that is normal for him and which may vary as muchor more than ten beats higher or ten beats lower than the generallyaccepted norm of seventy-two a minute for a young, healthy male; and theterms strength and regularity are used as frequency variation factorsresulting from either a lower or higher pulse beat and/or the regularityof the beat; the term amplitude is used to describe the distension ofthe pulse which, even though beating at a normal rate, may distend to agreater or lesser degree irregularly, thereby producing uniformly spacedclosings of the switch yet closings that are irregularly of differentduration. The above terms are used to represent factors that cause analteration in the rhythm of the heartbeat, either in time or force, thatis of functional or organic origin, i.e., a condition of arrhythmia.

The present invention comprises, generally, a pulseactuated switch 9, anelectric battery or cell 10, a control Watch 11 provided with adjustabledriving means 12 and controlled by said switch, an electric circuit 13operatively connecting said switch, cell and driving means, a referencewatch 14, differential gearing means 15 connecting the hour shafts 16and 17, respectively, of the watches 11 and 14, mean-s 18 for adjustingthe rate of operation of the watch 11 and, therefore, the synchrony ofthe watches 11 and 14, and audible alarms 19 and 19a that are set oif-by the differential gearing means and sound when the control watch 11,due to arrhythmia, deviates from its adjusted rate of operation, i.e.,slows relative to the reference watch 14 to a degree indicating that,relative to a normal pulse, the pulse action is slower, weaker and/orinterrupted, as may be due to irregular heart action, or the controlwatch speeds up to indicate abnormally rapid heart action relative tothe normal pulse. The above generally described components arepreferably housed or carried by a case 20, a bracelet 21 ibeing providedfor holding said case 20 on the users wrist, and the switch 9 beingembodied in or carried by the bracelet 21 in position superposed on thepulse to Ibe actuated by the beat thereof.

The switch 9, best shown in FIG. 2, comprises a pair of contacts 25 and26 on an insulating plate in a recess formed in an element 27 of thebracelet 21. A contact bridge 28 is normally spaced from the contacts 25and 26 by a lresilient member 29, and a flexible diaphragm 30 in a bezel31 is normally outwardly bowed due to the expansion of member 29 and aresilient block 32 interposed between the bridge 28 and said diaphragm.The switch shown represents a means for closing the circuit 13 whendistension of the pulse engages and causes inward deflection of thediaphragm 30 to effect bridging contact by the bridge 28 across theterminals 25 and 26. Thus, as the diaphragm is alternately inwardlydeflected and released, the circuit 13 is intermittently closed and,therefore, intermittently energized by the cell 10. In the absence ofarrhythmia, the make-and-break of the switch will be regular, and theoperation of the watch 11, as driven by the means 12, will keep itoperating at the same rate and show the same time as the reference watch14; if interrupted or otherwise affected by arrhythmia, this watch 11will slow up relative to the watch 14.

The cell 10, preferably of the mercury type and of disclike Iform, isshown in FIG. 3 as seated in and with one terminal grounded to a housing33 mounted on the inside of the case one contact 25 of the switch 9 isconnected by one line of the circuit 13 to said housing 33, and therebyto one side or terminal of said cell 10.

The control watch 11 may comprise any suitable form of watch the frame11a of which may mount the adjustable driving means 12, and is mountedin the case 20. Said means 12 is in electrical connection between theother contact 26 of the switch 9 through the other line of the circuit13 to and through the driving means 12 to said one line of said circuit.

The adjustable driving means 12 for the watch 11 is shown in FIG. 5, thesame comprising a solenoid 34 mounted on the Iframe 11a of watch 11, afloating core or armature 35 movable in the coil 36 of said solenoid, anextension 37 on said core, a driver arm 38 engaged with said extensionand moved thereby in an oscillatory manner, and a one-way clutch 39engaged with said arm and mounted on the second hand shaft 40 of thewatch 11. In the usual way, said second hand, by means of a conventionalgear train or other operative connection 41, advances the hour shaft 16of said watch.

As seen in FIG. 5, the switch 9 and the cell 10 are in series with thecoil 36, the latter being intermittently energized by thepulse-actuation of bridge 28. In this case, the solenoid 34 is shown asprojecting the armature 35 against the bias of a spring 42 to drive theshaft 40 through the arm 38 and clutch 39, the spring, upon opening ofthe switch 9, retracting the armature and the arm 38 while the shaftremains stationary. The reverse may be used: the spring may move theparts in a driving direction upon de-energization of the coil 36 afterthe same has been energized. In other words, the means 12 may have anactuating armature and a return spring, or an actuating spring and areturn armature.

Since, as above mentioned, normal 'hearts in different individuals mayhave regular but different beats per minute, the present watch mechanismis readied for use by a person having a particular normal heartbeat rateby adjusting the means 12 to effect a drive of the control watch 11 insynchrony with the reference watch 14, thereby bringing both watchesinto a relationship whereby their minute and hour hands sweep therespective watches faces in unison. To this end, the stroke of thearmature 35 is adjusted to have a maximum movement. This is done byadjusting nuts 37a on the armature so they have limit-stop engagementwith the frame 11a conforming to the normal rate of beat of the heart.Therefore, a normally strong but more rapid than normal heartbeat willresult in the shaft 16 being driven faster and the-watch 11 to -bespeeded up relative to the regular speed of operation of the watch 14.Also, should the arrhythmic action of the 'heartbeat be such as to slowthe pulse, lessen the strength or distension thereof, or cause the sameto become erratic or irregular, as a result the shaft 16 will be drivenslower and the watch 11 will be slowed relative to the regular speed ofoperation of the watch 14.

Slippage between the armature extension 37 and the arm 38 is obviated,as by providing friction between said extension and arm. To this end,means such as a pressure roller 38a may be used to press the extensionagainst the arcuate end of arm 38. Of course, suitable linkage may besubstituted for the friction drive shown.

The reference `watch 14 is also carried by the case 20, its hour shaft17 being preferably, but not necessarily, arranged in parallelism withthe hour lhand 16 0f the control watch 11. Watch 14 may comprise anotherwise conventional electric or spring-driven, or self-winding orautomatic watch.

The differential gearing means 15 that connects the two hour hands isshown in FIGS. 3 and 4 as a bevel drive gear 44 on the shaft 17, aIbevel pinion 45 driven by the gear 44 and carried by one end of atransmission shaft 46 journalled in a bracket 47 mounted in the case 20,and a bevel pinion 48 on the opposite end of the shaft 46 of the samesize as pinion 45.

Said pinion 48 drives bevel gear 49. Since the two gear pairs 44, 45 and48, 49 are the same size, the gear 49 will be driven at the speed of thegear 44. The shaft 50` that mounts the Vgear 49 also mounts a slightlylarger bevel gear 51 which, therefore, has the same rotational speed ofgears 44 and 49.

The hour shaft 17 mounts a bevel gear 52 of the same size as gear 51,said shaft 17 and the shaft 50 being coaxial, as shown in FIG. 3, andjournalled in a bracket S3 mounted in the case 20. An idler gear 54,larger than the gear 48, is meshed with both gears 49 and 52.

While the shafts 16 and 17 are called hour shafts, in practice, one ofthem may be an hour shaft, and the other a stub shaft driven by the hourshaft of watch 14 counterclockwise to the direction of rotation of theshaft 16. Since gear 51 rotates in the same direction as gear 44, itrotates oppositely to the direction of rotation of the gear S2.Therefore, if the two watches are in synchrony, the idler gear willrotate on its axis and will have an unchanging position so long as thecontrol watch 11, as set by the means 12, is driven 4by pulse movementnormal to the individual. Upon a slowing of the watch 11 due to pulseirregularity under arrhythmic heartbeat condition, as above explained,the gear 51 will slow up in relation to the speed ofv gear 52, therebycausing the idler gear 54 not only to turn on its axis, but also toshift its position bodily in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 4.Upon speeding up of the watch 11 due to an inordinately rapid pulse, thegear 51 will speed up in relation to the speed of gear 52, causing theidler gear 54 to shift its position bodily in a counter-clockwisedirection. Thus, the differential speeds of the two Watches create apositional shift of the gear 52 that may be used to sound an alarm toapprise the user of pulse irregularity. Of course, visual inspection ofthe two Watches will reveal this deviant condition, but cannot Ibe fullydepended upon.

The means 18 is shown as a cage 55 that is connected to said bracket 53and is formed with an arcuate side 56 in which a slot 57 is provided,and a stem 58 connected to the idler pinion 54 and provided with aspring 59 that biases the pinion 54 into meshing engagement with thegears 51 and 52. A knob 60 on said stem extends through a slot 61 in thecase 20. When the watches are to be synchronized to show the same minute.and hour hand position, the knob 60 is pulled to remove the idlerpinion S4 from connection with the gears 51 and 52. Now the watch 11 maybe set to the time of the watch 14 by means of the setting stem 62 and,after restoring the stem 58 to its aligned start position if thatposition has been disturbed, the knob 60 is released to allow the pinion54 to re-mesh with the gears 51 and 52. Normal operation of themechanism according to the setting of the means 12 is thus instituted.

The audible alarm 19 is shown as being set off or operated by a lug 63on the stem 58. Since the gear 54, under differential control as above,may move in either direction from the central position shown in FIG. 4,the alarm 19 may comprise two separate units, as shown, one or the otherbeing operable depending on the direction of bodily movement of thegea-r `54. Each alarm may be of any desired form; the same are hereshown in FIGS. 6 and 7 and comprise a housing 64 containing a torsionspring -65 that at one end is connected to a ratchet 66 on a windingstem `67. A lug 68 is connected to trip the ratchet and may be contactedby the lug 63 when the pinion 54 has moved bodily, as above explained,when differential movement of the gears 51 and 52 occurs. The alarmstops when spring 65 runs down, Upon re-set of the means 18, the stem 67is used for re-winding the alarm. It will be evident that the alarm perse forms no part of this invention and merely represents one manner ofgiving notice of a differential time condition between the two watches.

The differential means a shown in FIG, 8 is a simplication that employscrown gears instead of bevel gears. T-hus, the driven pinion 48a ismeshed with a crown gear 39a, and the latter and differential gear 52aare commonly connected to an idler gear 54a. In other respects, thedifferential means 15a operates as above described.

Since the speeds of the differential gears are relatively slow, themovement of idler gear 54 from a synchronous position to analarm-sounding position may be adjusted as by shifting the position ofthe alarm 19. This will insure against premature sounding of the alarmupon every small fluctuation in the pulse beat.

The watches may be placed in synchrony vat any time by actuating themeans 18 and by adjusting the driving means 12 for the control watch 11so the two watches operate and move their respective hands angularlyaround their respective axes 16 and 17 simultaneously and identically,to remain in synchrony. FIG. l shows the hands in such synchronousrelation. Any change in the position of the hands of watch 11 withrespect to the position of the hands of watch 14 is indicative of a lossof sy-nchrony. The latter condition occurs when the frequency of thepulse beat abnormally increases or decreases due to arrhythmia.

While the foregoing illustrates and describes what are now contemplatedto be the best modes of carrying out the invention with respect to boththe method and apparatus, the same is, of course, subject tomodification without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. Therefore, it is not desired to restrict the invention to theparticular method steps or combination or sequence of steps described,nor to the particular forms of construction illustrated and described,but to cover all equivalents or modifications of method and apparatusthat may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to besecured by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of determining the function of a heart with respect toarrhythmic variations in the beat thereof in relation to a normal heartwhich vconsists in operating a control watch through a mechanismactuated by an electric circuit having a source of power and a switchmeans opened and closed by a cardiac pulse, synchronizing the initialoperation of the control watch with a continuously operating referenceWatch, whereby the operation of the control watch by the cardiac pulsecan be compared with the movement of the reference watch, andcontinuously operating the control watch by the cardiac pulse, whereby adeviant reading of the cardiac pulse-actuated watch compared with thereference watch can be related to indicate to the observer thecorresponding variations in the functioning of the heart.

2. A cardiac pulse-actuated watch mechanism comprising, in combination:

(a) a control watch provided with an electric driving means,

(tb) an electric cell for energizing said means to operate the watch,

(c) a normally-open switch that is adapted to he intermittently closed-by pulsations of the pulse when in superposed contact with the pulse,

(d) an electric circuit connecting the watch-driving means, cell andswitch to operate said watch under control of the pulse according toarrhythmic variations of the heartbeat from normal,

(e) said watch being provided with an operating shaft and with angularlymovable hands,

(f) a case to mount said control watch and the electric cell,

(g) a reference watch provided with a driven shaft and with angularlymovable hands and mounted in the case, the latter watch beingconventionally continuously driven at a constant speed,

(h) means connecting the mentioned shafts of the two watches andconstituting means to synchronize the speed of operation of the controlwatch with the consta-nt speed of the reference watch,

(i) the control watch-driving means being provided with means to adjustthe same to synchronize the angular movement of the hands of said watchwith the constant-speed angular movement of the hands of the referencewatch during a predetermined and normal frequency of the cardiac pulse,the movement of the hands of the control watch falling out of synchronywith the movement of the hands of the reference watch when the frequencyof the pulse, due to arrhythmia, varies from said normal, thereby toapprise of such variation, and

(j) means to conform the identity of the angular positions of the handsof the two watches.

3. A cardiac pulse-actuated watch mechanism according to claim 2,including means provided with an alarm and interconnecting the mentionedshafts of the two Watches to cause operation of the alarm upondifferential of rotational speed of said shafts.

4. A pulse-actuated watch mechanism according to claim 3, in which thelast-mentioned means includes differential gearing having an alarmactuator gear that is moved to alarm-sounding position when thementioned speed differential occurs.

5. In a cardiac pulse-actuated mechanism,

(a) a control watch having hands angularly movable around an axis andhaving an operating shaft to move said hands and provided with anelectrical driver provided with a gear driven in one direction by saidshaft,

(b) a reference watch of continuously operating design and having acontinuously driven shaft and angularly movable hands, and a gear drivenby said driven shaft in the opposite direction to the first-mentionedgear, and

(c) differential gearing connecting said two gears and including apinion that has a stationary axis when both said gears rotate at thesame speed, the axis of said pinion shifting around the axis of thementioned shaft of the reference watch upon the differential gearingadjusting to a change in the rates of speed of the two shafts,

(d) the control watch-driving means being provided with means to adjustthe same to synchronize the angular movement of the hands of said watchwith the constant-speed angular movement of the hands yof the referencewatch during a predetermined and normal frequency of the cardiac pulse,the movement of the hands of the control watch falling out of synchronywith the movement of the hands of the reference watch when the frequencyof the pulse, due to arrhythmia, Varies from said normal, thereby toapprise of such variation.

6. In a watch mechanism according to claim 5,

(a) an alarm device, and

7 (b) means carried by said pinion and engaging said device when theaxis of the pinion has shifted as mentioned.

7. In a watch mechanism according to claim 6, means to retract thepinion from connecting engagement with the watch-driven gears to enablesynchronizing adjustment of the watches.

8. A watch mechanism according to claim 2, provided with means to adjustthe rate of drive of the driving means according to the normal beat ofthe pulse.

9. A Watch mechanism according to claim 8 in which the driving meanscomprises:

(a) a solenoid having a floating armature the coil of which is connectedin the mentioned circuit and is energized to actuate the armature whenthe switch is closed, and (b) means connecting said solenoid armature tothe 5 mentioned shaft of the control watch to intermittently drive saidshaft at a rate conforming to the beat of the pulse.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 2,828,734 4/1958 Johnston..-12S-2.05

WILLIAM E. KAMM, Primary Examiner.

